The I-400 class

bard32

Banned
Let's consider the most unusual weapon of World War II: The I-400 class submarine aircraft carriers. They were originally built to attack the Panama
Canal, and were later planned for use, in the Battle of Okinawa. However, they
were never used there either, because they were more trouble than they were
worth.
 
Let's consider the most unusual weapon of World War II: The I-400 class submarine aircraft carriers. They were originally built to attack the Panama
Canal, and were later planned for use, in the Battle of Okinawa. However, they
were never used there either, because they were more trouble than they were
worth.

And? I apologize for being terse (I'm tired), but what's your point, POD, or WI?
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
Let's consider the most unusual weapon of World War II: The I-400 class submarine aircraft carriers. They were originally built to attack the Panama
Canal, and were later planned for use, in the Battle of Okinawa. However, they
were never used there either, because they were more trouble than they were
worth.

Of course they weren't used. They were an interesting feat of engineering, but a REALLY stupid idea. As the war progressed they were increasingly useless as they were too big for regular work and too manpower intensive.

The idiot who proposed them should have been invited to go into a room and make his amends to the Emperor.
 
The trouble with two-in-one type craft is that, as a rule of thumb, they generally cost more to develop than specialised craft with the additional disadvantage that they don't do either job as well.

Yes, they're generally useful for certain very specialised roles but it's generally not worth the money it costs. Instead of building a submarine/aircraft carrier you'd be better off putting the money into building a standard submarine or a normal aircraft carrier.
 
it sounds cool, but it does not work well in reality, like the Battleship/ aircarft carrier hybrid and the personal helicopter
 
The only man to bombard mainland US did it from these Sub-Carriers. On 9th September 1942 Nobuo Fujita from the sub I25 launched from the sub-carriers and was tasked to set fire to the forests of Oregon.

Anything that is half-half in any of its roles are good at neither of them. They are usually made because the country is either:
a) Running out of production lines
b) Can't be bothered to make 2 seperate designs
c) So it can be multipurpose; Though not being too good at any of the purposes.

Take a good look at the I-400s. They're huge cos they have to load all those plane parts. Not good for normal sub operations. They could only have 3 Aichi M6As. Not good for anti-convoy let alone anti-ship operations. Plus they also had a high production cost, these I-400s.

Only had 1 plus- high range. The I-400 could go around the world IF the crew doesn't run out of supplies.
 

bard32

Banned
And? I apologize for being terse (I'm tired), but what's your point, POD, or WI?

The POD would be between 1943 and 1945. The last known use of them was in
late 1944-early 1945, as mother ships for the Japanese kaiten torpedoes.
The kaitens were used for IJN kamikazes.
 

bard32

Banned
Of course they weren't used. They were an interesting feat of engineering, but a REALLY stupid idea. As the war progressed they were increasingly useless as they were too big for regular work and too manpower intensive.

The idiot who proposed them should have been invited to go into a room and make his amends to the Emperor.

Maybe even commit hara kiri. From what I heard on the History Channel, they
were used as mother ships for the Japanese kaiten manned torpedoes. Most of
them were destroyed. They were intended to make a kamikaze attack on the locks of the Panama Canal starting in either 1943 or '44. However, late in 1944, they were used as kaiten mother ships.
 
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